Led Zeppelin have been turning down festival reunion offers left and right, and now we know why: Robert Plant will hit the road with his resurrected Band of Joy project this summer — and he's currently recording a new album slated for release in early summer or late fall. The first leg of the 12-date tour kicks off July 13th in Memphis before wrapping up July 31st in Miami; a second leg is scheduled for the fall. As Zep fans probably know, Plant and drummer John Bonham were members of Band of Joy prior to joining Led Zeppelin.

For his new record and tour, Plant has rounded up an ace group of roots musicians and session players: Patty Griffin on vocals, multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott, guitarist and co-producer Buddy Miller, drummer Marco Giovino and bassist Byron House. "It's been a blast working on these new songs… and I'm enjoying such creativity and vitality," Plant said in a statement. "It's been a remarkable change of direction for all of us and as a group we all seem to have developed a new groove."

The upcoming release will be Plant's first LP since 2007's Raising Sand, his multiplatinum, Grammy-winning collaboration with Alison Krauss. With Krauss busy working on recording and touring with her own band Union Station, Plant doesn't plan to tour or record with her this year, although he does promise there will be an eventual follow-up to Raising Sand. "Alison and I get together quite often… and sometimes we dance," Plant added.

Ticket info and on-sale dates for the trek can be found at Ticketmaster. Check out the dates tour below: